WINSTON-SALEM, NC — North Carolina is filled with historic and nationwide championship basketball applications, from Duke and UNC to applications like HBCU Winston-Salem State College (WSSU).
Corey Thompson in contrast his pleasure and affinity in his program for that of the 2 ACC giants that tower within the state and nationally as he was launched as WSSU’s new head coach on Tuesday.
“That is like — my Duke. Proper. I do know we’re within the Tar Heel State. You bought your Carolina and Duke followers. However that is my Duke, that is my Carolina. That is it for me. Winston-Salem State constructed me into the person that I’m in the present day.”
Thompson was formally employed as the primary WSSU alumnus to take over the boys’s basketball program on Tuesday. He spent the final eight years as a highschool coach within the Fayetteville, NC space. Earlier than that, he spent a decade as an assistant coach on the collegiate degree at Fayetteville State and UNC-Pembroke.
Thompson paid homage to the legendary coaches who’ve come earlier than him on the CIAA HBCU, notably Coach Clarence “Massive Home” Gaines.
“Our legend, Coach Massive Home Gaines, laid the inspiration, constructed the home for our program and the college,” Thompson stated. “I’m honored to sit down within the seat of many nice coaches on this program.”
He additionally acknowledged the contributions of former coaches Rick Duckett, Phillip Stitt, Bobby Collins, and Cleo Hill Jr., who’ve all performed vital roles within the success of WSSU’s basketball program.
“I don’t take this seat calmly,” he commented. “I instructed AD (Etienne) Thomas I’m able to work. Can I get carried out with the press convention? I need to go recruit.”
Certainly, he can have loads of recruiting to do. All of final season’s starters are gone from a program that received 90 video games below Hill earlier than he left to take over at Maryland-Jap Shore. He took a number of expertise with him to the Division I HBCU, together with rising junior KC Shaw and several other Divisison I transfers that dedicated to WSSU previous to his transfer. Jeremy Dixon is the main returning scorer at 4.7 factors per recreation.
Thompson’s imaginative and prescient for this system extends past the basketball court docket. He emphasised the significance of recruiting gamers who not solely excel within the sport but in addition thrive academically and contribute positively to the group.
“You need to usher in gamers who imagine in one thing greater than themselves,” he acknowledged. “My kind of participant is somebody who’s profitable on the court docket, within the classroom, and locally.”
His ardour for WSSU was palpable as he continued his speech.
“I’m not going to let this college fall. I’m going to do all the pieces in my energy legally to make it possible for we keep on high,” Thompson vowed. “The home has already been constructed. I’m simply right here so as to add some spice. That is residence. That is my dream job, my dream alternative to come back again and provides again to my alma mater.”
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